Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome throughout the appeal period.

The Board granted increased ratings of 30 percent for right and left knee disabilities effective March 21, 2018. Prior to this date, the Veteran's conditions were rated at various levels based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete information in the record, including a lack of VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for corneal ulcers, bilateral foot disability, bilateral CTS, cervical spine disability, and right knee disability are not granted due to lack of current diagnoses. The cases have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it was caused or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right shoulder, knee, back, and hip conditions, are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating available under DC 5055.,Prior to October 16, 2019, the Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent due to painful motion. After that date, a higher rating is not warranted as there are no symptoms of instability or ankylosis.,Since December 1, 2020, the Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent under DC 5055.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Multiple issues were remanded, including heart disorder, prostate disorder, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorder, headache disorder, skin disability, sinus disorder with allergies, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, gout, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a back condition due to incomplete medical opinions in the January 2017 VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders and generalized arthritis due to potential issues with causation or aggravation by a service-connected condition, as well as incomplete medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions provided by the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100 percent, and he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, there is no evidence that any single service-connected condition prevents him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection due to inadequate examination reports, failure to address additional functional impairment during flare-ups, and lack of a detailed rationale regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis with limitation of extension is denied. The Veteran's status post ACL and MMT repair is granted at a 30 percent rating, but no higher.

The Board denied a separate compensable disability rating for limitation of right knee extension, finding that the evidence did not show any limitation of extension to a degree warranting such a rating.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. The Board also remanded several other claims, including those for an acquired psychiatric disorder and various musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims for low back and bilateral knee disabilities are being returned for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities because he failed to provide necessary information and evidence, and there is no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions alone preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder and Tinea Pedis are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for Recurrent Tinnitus is granted based on her credible testimony about the onset and continuity of symptoms. The Board finds that she has competent, credible testimony regarding tinnitus.,The Veteran's service connection claims for Anemia, Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, Right Knee Disability, Left Knee Disability, Right Extremity Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Left Extremity Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Right Foot Plantar Fasciitis are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also finds that the Veteran did not have a knee condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, or plantar fasciitis in service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Insomnia was referred back to the Regional Office for appropriate development and adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his left knee disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to the potential entitlement to an earlier effective date.